Isolation packer inflated by a fluid filtered from a gravel laden slurry

ABSTRACT

Tools and methods for completing a wellbore that comprise an isolation packer with a particulate filter and inflatable element. The isolation packer is adapted to direct a gravel laden slurry to the particulate filter, where the filter removes a substantial amount of the particulate matter from the gravel laden slurry thereby producing an inflating fluid that is substantially free of particulate matter. The inflating fluid then inflates the inflatable element thereby creating a seal in the wellbore.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention generally relates to inflatable packers used to completesubterranean wells and in particular to hydraulically actuatedinflatable packers. More specifically, this invention relates tohydraulically actuated inflatable packers that are inflated by a fluidfiltered from a gravel laden slurry or other fluid with suspendedsolids.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Oil and natural gas may be obtained from subterranean geologicformations, referred to as reservoir, by drilling wells that penetratehydrocarbon-bearing formations. In order to obtain hydrocarbons from awellbore, the well usually must be completed.

Well completion involves the design, selection, and installation ofequipment and materials in or around a wellbore for conveying, pumping,or controlling the production or injection of fluids from and/or to thewellbore. After a well has been completed, production of oil and gas maybegin. Sand or silt flowing into the wellbore from unconsolidatedformations may lead to an accumulation of fill within the wellbore whichmay cause a reduction of production rates and damage to surface andsubsurface production equipment. The fill, often referred to asmigrating sand, has the possibility of packing off around subsurfaceproduction equipment, or may enter the production tubing and thereforeenter production equipment. Sand is highly abrasive, and if it entersproduction streams, it may cause the erosion of tubing, flowlines,valves and other processing components and equipment. Erosion andabrasion caused by sand production often increases operational andmaintenance expenses, and in severe cases may lead to a total loss ofthe well. Gravel packing is a means of controlling sand production.Gravel packing is the placement of relatively large sand (i.e.,“gravel”) around the exterior of a sand screen or liner, which includesslotted sand screens, perforated sand screens, and various other linertypes and screens. The gravel acts as a filter to remove formation finesand sand from oilfield fluids.

A gravel pack completion known in the art comprises a sand screen thatis placed in the wellbore and positioned within an unconsolidatedformation. The sand screen may be connected to a tool that includes aproduction packer and a cross-over. The tool is connected to a workstring or a production tubing string. Gravel is then pumped in a slurrydown the tubing and through the cross-over, thereby flowing into theannulus between the sand screen and the wellbore. The slurry comprises aliquid supporting suspended solids. The solids are often referred to as“gravel”. The liquid leaks off into the formation and/or through thesand screen, which is sized to prevent the solids in the slurry fromflowing through. Thus the solids are deposited in the annulus around thesand screen where it forms a gravel pack. The sand screen prevents thegravel pack from entering into the production tubing. The gravel must besized for proper containment of the formation sand, and the sand screenmust be designed in a manner to prevent the flow of the gravel throughthe sand screen.

Often during well completions there is a need to seal off sections ofthe wellbore. One reason to seal off a section of a wellbore is the needto isolate those areas in which an adequate gravel pack can not beobtained, such as below the bottom of the gravel pack screens whereadequate circulation is difficult to achieve. Another reason to seal offa section of a wellbore is that in some formations, such as across amajor or minor shale section, a gravel pack completion is not desirable.Still another reason to seal off a section of a well bore is becausewhen one or more sections are to be completed and another section is notgoing to be completed, the non-completed section often needs to beisolated from the sections that will be completed. This is due to thefact that when non-completed sections are not isolated, the gravel,which is tightly packed around the gravel pack screens after a gravelpack, may be able to migrate to these non-completed sections, therebylimiting the effectiveness of the gravel pack completion. Another reasonto isolate a section of the wellbore is to prevent or limit accelerationof the gravel migration effect due to the flow of produced fluids. Sandscreens exposed to gravel migration due to the flow of produced fluidsmay experience direct production of formation sand which could result inequipment damage, formation collapse and even the loss of the well.

Well known in the art are inflatable packers, usually comprising anannular elastomeric bladder, which have been used to seal off sectionsof wellbores for the reasons discussed above. When the bladder is filledby a by a pressurized fluid, it inflates the packer causing the exteriorof the elastomeric body to seal against the wellbore. This produces awellbore seal that prohibits fluid flow past the packer.

A problem with inflatable packers known in the art is the difficulty ofsending fluid to the bladder to inflate the bladder. The time consumedin using known inflatable packers includes the time needed for an extrastep either prior to the gravel pack step or after the gravel pack stepto send a specialized tool down the wellbore to inflate the packer.

Thus, there is a need for an improved inflatable packer which reducesthe known problems in sending fluid to the bladder to inflate thebladder, and eliminates the need for an extra step either prior to orafter a gravel pack to inflate the bladder.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention describes tools and methods of completing awellbore that comprise an isolation packer with a particulate filter andinflatable element. The isolation packer is adapted to direct a gravelladen slurry to the particulate filter, where the filter removes asubstantial amount of the particulate matter from the gravel ladenslurry thereby producing an inflating fluid that is substantially freeof particulate matter. The inflating fluid then inflates the inflatableelement thus creating a seal in the wellbore.

This invention offers a number of benefits over conventional wellborecompletion tools. Usually a pre-gravel pack trip would be undertaken toisolate a sump area, for instance, with a cement plug or an open holepacker. This pre-gravel pack trip comprise additional steps that arecostly, time consuming and are often difficult to perform and unreliablein their outcome. The present invention provides a means of achievingthe desired results in the same trip into the well as the gravel packoperation. The ability to inflate the inflatable isolation packer duringa gravel pack completion can save time and expense by eliminating anadditional trip into the well.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above advantages as well as specific embodiments will be understoodfrom consideration of the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a cross section of a wellbore showing a prior art gravel packcompletion apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a cross section of a wellbore showing a gravel pack completionapparatus that includes an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are cross sections of a wellbore showing a gravel packcompletion with both a typical isolation packer (FIG. 3A) and with a cuppacker (FIG. 3B) with the particulate filter located near an uphole endof the conduit.

FIG. 4 is a cross section of a wellbore showing an embodiment of thepresent invention with the inflatable element shown in an inflatedstate.

FIG. 5 is a partial cut away view of another embodiment of the presentinvention comprising an alternative channel.

FIG. 6 is a partial cut away view of the present invention comprising analternative channel with the particulate filter located near an upholeend of the alternative channel.

FIG. 7 is a partial cut away view of the alternative channel embodimentof the present invention showing the inflatable element in an inflatedstate.

FIG. 8 is a cross section of a wellbore showing another embodiment ofthe present invention in an openhole completion.

FIG. 9 is a cross section of a wellbore showing the embodiment of thepresent invention in an openhole completion with the inflatable elementin an inflated state.

References in the detailed description correspond to like references inthe figures unless otherwise indicated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to the attached drawings, FIG. 1 is a depiction of the priorart and illustrates a wellbore 10 that has penetrated a subterraneanzone 12 that includes a productive formation 14. The wellbore 10 has acasing 16 that has been cemented in place. The casing 16 has a pluralityof perforations 18 which allow fluid communication between the wellbore10 and the productive formation 14. A well tool 20 is positioned withinthe casing 16 in a position adjacent to the productive formation 14,which is to be gravel packed.

The present invention can be utilized in both cased wells and open holecompletions, as well as vertical wells and non-vertical wells. For easeof illustration of the relative positions of the producing zones inFIGS. 1-4, a cased well having perforations will be used. More detailedillustrations of the invention being utilized in an open hole completionare shown in FIGS. 8-9.

Still referring to FIG. 1, the well tool 20 comprises a tubular member22 attached to a production packer 24, a closing sleeve 26, and one ormore sand screen elements 28. Blank sections of pipe may be used toproperly space the relative positions of each of the components. Anannulus area 34 is created between each of the components and thewellbore casing 16. The combination of the well tool 20 and the tubularstring extending from the well tool to the surface can be referred to asthe production string.

Still referring to FIG. 1, in a gravel pack operation the packer 24 isset to ensure a seal between the tubular member 22 and the casing 16.Gravel laden slurry is pumped down the tubular member 22, exits thetubular member through ports in the closing sleeve 26 and enters theannulus area 34 below the production packer 24. In one typicalembodiment the particulate matter (gravel) in the slurry has an averageparticle size between about 40/60 mesh-12/20 mesh, although other sizesmay be used. Slurry dehydration occurs when the carrier fluid leaves theslurry. The carrier fluid can leave the slurry by way of theperforations 18 and enter the formation 14. The carrier fluid can alsoleave the slurry by way of the sand screen elements 28 and enter thetubular member 22. The carrier fluid flows up through the tubular member22 until the closing sleeve 26 places it in the annulus area 36 abovethe production packer 24 where it can leave the wellbore 10 at thesurface. Upon slurry dehydration the gravel grains should pack tightlytogether. The final gravel filled annulus area is referred to as agravel pack.

An area that is prone to developing a void during a gravel packoperation is the area 42 below the lowest sand screen element 28,sometimes referred to as the “sump”. A gravel pack void in the sump 42is particularly problematic in vertical wells in that it can allow thegravel from above to settle and fall into the voided sump.

Production of fluids from the productive formation 14 can agitate or“fluff” the gravel pack and initiate the gravel to migrate and settlewithin the sump 42. This can lead to the creation of voids in theannulus areas 38 adjacent to the sand screen elements 28 and underminethe effectiveness of the entire well completion.

As used herein, the term “sand screen” refers to wire wrapped screens,mechanical type screens and other filtering mechanisms typicallyemployed with sand screens. Sand screens need to be have openings smallenough to restrict gravel flow, often having gaps in the 60-12 meshrange, but other sizes may be used. Sand screens of various types areproduced by Halliburton, among others, and are commonly known to thoseskilled in the art.

FIG. 2 illustrates one particular embodiment of the present inventionwhere an upper set of perforations 60 and a lower set of perforations 62will be completed utilizing a gravel pack completion. The lower set ofperforations 62 will be isolated from the upper set of perforations 60.An inflatable isolation packer 50 is run into the wellbore 10 below thelowest sand screen element 28. A conduit 52 extends from the gravelinflated isolation packer 50 and provides communication with the annulusarea 38 that will be gravel packed. The conduit 52 may be generallyreferred to as a passageway, and more specifically referred to as ashunt tube. A second conduit 53 may be utilized below the isolationpacker 50.

Between the conduit 52 and the gravel inflated isolation packer 50 is aparticulate filter 54. Likewise, a particulate filter 59 is placedbetween conduit 53 and the isolation packer 50. In this way, either orboth of the conduits 52, 53 allow gravel laden slurry to travel from theannulus area 38 to the particulate filters 54, 59 where the gravel ladenslurry is filtered, thereby providing an inflating fluid. The inflatingfluid is then communicated to an inflatable element 56 that provides thesealing mechanism between the tubular member 22 and the casing 16. Theinflatable element 56 may be an expandable bladder. The particulatefilter 54 could be any device known in the art that separates theparticulate matter in the gravel laden slurry from the carrying fluid.Some examples of particulate filters include, but are not limited to:wire-wrapped screens and wire meshes.

A conduit, such as conduit 52 and/or conduit 53, is just one way ofenabling the communication of the gravel laden slurry to enter theinflatable isolation packer 50. Other embodiments can be used, such asconnecting the inflatable isolation packer 50 to a flow channel which isintegral to the screen, or a shunt tube. All of these embodiments wouldinclude a particulate filter to prevent particulates such as gravel fromentering the inflatable element 56. In addition, all of theseembodiments may include a check valve device to prevent any reverse flowout of the inflatable isolation packer 50.

The inflation of the inflatable element 56 will typically be done with afluid that is filtered from a gravel laden slurry. This fluid will be aninflating fluid that is substantially free of particulates such asgravel. The inflation of the inflatable element 56 can be performed inconjunction with a gravel pack completion operation of the well.

The inflatable element 56 may be constructed utilizing an innerelastomeric element that retains the pressurized fluid that is used toinflate the packer. The inflatable element may comprise more than onelayer of material, such as utilizing an expandable mesh as an outerlayer for durability. Often a plurality of metal reinforcing members canbe located in the annulus between the elastomeric element and the outerexpandable mesh, these provide additional strength to the packer and canimprove reliability. The typical construction can be in the manner ofconventional packers, these methods and materials being well known tothose skilled in the art.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate alternate embodiments of the invention wherethe particulate filter 54 is no longer located adjacent to theinflatable element 56, but rather is now located near the uphole end ofthe conduit 52. The particulate filter 54 may be located at variouslocations on the well tool 20 so long as the particulate filter is ableto filter the particulates from the gravel slurry so that an inflatingfluid is produced that is substantially free of particulate matter andcan be used to inflate the inflatable element 56. Multiple conduits maybe used, one or more with ports as depicted in FIG. 2 in addition to oneor more without ports as shown in FIG. 3A, as long as at least oneconduit supplies inflating fluid through a particulate filter that caninflate the inflatable element.

FIG. 3B shows the use of a cup packer 55 placed below the entrance toconduit 52 but above the first opening of sand screen elements 28. As isknown in the arts, the use of a cup packer, such as cup packer 55,creates a pressure seal between well tool 34 and the well bore wall 16except for the passage way through the conduit, such as conduit 52, orthe conduits allowing a forced flow through the conduit or conduits.

FIG. 4 illustrates the embodiment of the invention as described in FIG.2 after a gravel pack operation has been performed. The inflatableelement 56 of the inflatable isolation packer 50 is expanded andprovides a seal between the tubular member 22 and the casing 16. Theupper and lower set of perforations 60 and 62 have been properly gravelpacked and protected from the producing formation 14. The inflatableisolation packer 50 acts to isolate the gravel pack completed lower setof perforations 62 from the gravel pack completed upper set ofperforations 60. Also shown in FIG. 4 is the use of a second isolationpacker 150 which can be used and operated in a manner similar toisolation packer 50.

For ease of installation and to ensure proper placement relative to thecomponents of the well tool 20, the conduit 52 that extends from theinflatable isolation packer 50 will typically be attached to theexterior of the well tool 20 in some manner, such as by welding. It isalso possible for the conduit 52 to be replaced by a fluid pathwayforming an alternative channel within a sand screen element, asdescribed with respect to FIGS. 5-7. Also, the particulate filters maybe located adjacent or near the inflatable element 56.

Referring now to FIG. 5, there is depicted a partial cut away view of anapparatus 64 that is an alternative channel embodiment of the invention.Apparatus 64 has an outer tubular 66. A portion of the side wall ofouter tubular 66 is an axially extending production section 68 thatincludes a plurality of openings 70. Another portion of the side wall ofouter tubular 66 is an axially extending nonproduction section 72 thatis distinguished from the production section 68 by the lack of openings70. It should be noted by those skilled in the art that even though FIG.5 has depicted openings 70 as being circular, other shaped openings mayalternatively be used without departing from the principles of thepresent invention. In addition, the exact number, size and shape ofopenings 70 are not critical to the present invention, so long assufficient area is provided for fluid production therethrough and theintegrity of outer tubular 66 is maintained.

Still referring to FIG. 5, disposed within outer tubular 66 and onopposite sides of each other is one or more channels 74, only onechannel 74 being visible. Channels 74 provide circumferential fluidisolation between production section 68 and nonproduction section 72 ofouter tubular 66. Channels 74 may be generally referred to aspassageways.

Still referring to FIG. 5, disposed within channels 74 is a sand controlscreen assembly 78. The sand control screen assembly 78 may include abase pipe 80 that has a plurality of openings 82 which allow the flow ofproduction fluids into the production tubing. The exact number, size andshape of openings 82 are not critical to the present invention, so longas sufficient area is provided for fluid production and the integrity ofbase pipe 80 is maintained. Positioned around base pipe 80 is afluid-porous, particulate restricting, sintered metal material such asplurality of layers of a wire mesh that are sintered together to form aporous sintered wire mesh screen 84. Sand screen 84 is designed to allowfluid flow therethrough but prevent the flow of particulate materials ofa predetermined size from passing therethrough. It should be understoodby those skilled in the art that other configurations of the sand screenassembly 78 may be used in conjunction with the alternative channelembodiment 64 of the invention, for instance, the sand screen assemblymay also have a screen housing located between the channels 74 and thesand screen 84, or different screening materials may be used in stead ofthe sand screen 84.

Still referring to FIG. 5, in this embodiment, the channels 74 areanalogous to the conduit 52 from FIGS. 2-4, in that a gravel ladenslurry may travel down the channels 74 to a particulate filter 54, whichfilters out particulates such as gravel. Once the gravel laden slurry isfiltered, a substantially particulate-free fluid thereby communicateswith an inflatable isolation packer 50 and expands inflatable element56. FIG. 6 shows another embodiment of the alternative channel apparatus64 wherein the particle filter 54 is located nearer the uphole end ofthe alternative channel 74, instead of being adjacent to the inflatableisolation packer 50. FIG. 7 shows the alternative channel apparatus 64with the inflatable element 56 expanded to form a seal with the casing16 to isolate the annular area 38 from the space 86 below the packer

FIG. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the gravel inflated isolation packer50 utilized in an openhole environment. This embodiment comprises atubular member 22, a conduit 52, two particulate filters 54, anexpandable element 56, an upper packer head 88, and a lower packer head90. This illustration shows an embodiment of the present inventionwherein the conduit 52 extends out both the upper packer head 88 and thelower packer head 90. The conduit 52 provides two pathways, one forcommunication to the expandable element 56, and the second forcommunication to annular areas 92 and 94.

FIG. 9 shows the inflatable isolation packer 50 as illustrated in FIG. 8and described above with the inflatable element 56 in an inflated stateand filled with inflating fluid. The inflated inflatable element 56forms a seal between in the wellbore thereby isolating annular area 92from annular area 94.

The inflatable isolation packer 50 acts to isolate a first zone from asecond zone within the well. In FIG. 4, an annulus area that is gravelpacked is being isolated from a lower annulus area of the well that isalso gravel packed. Other embodiments can be used to separate a gravelpacked annulus area from a non-gravel packed annulus area, a gravelpacked annulus area from a sump area or other combinations such asthese. In other embodiments, a lateral wellbore may be isolated from amain wellbore, multiple lateral wellbores may be isolated from eachother, and length of a lateral wellbore being gravel packed may beeffectively shortened. The ability to inflate the inflatable isolationpacker 50 during a gravel pack completion can save time and expense byeliminating an additional trip into the well.

FIGS. 1-3 shows the invention used between two gravel packed zones,whereby the invention is isolating the two gravel packed zones from eachother. This embodiment can be used to selectively work on or producefrom the separate zones.

In another embodiment the invention may be placed below the lowestperforation or at the bottom of the well. This embodiment may be used toisolate the lower areas from the completed zones without permanentlyreducing the total depth of the well. Thus, the well could befunctionally plugged back to where the inflatable isolation packer waslocated and leaving open the option of removing the inflatable isolationpacker for the completion of deeper zones in the future.

The discussion and illustrations within this application may refer to avertical wellbore that has casing cemented in place, or is an openholebore, and comprises casing perforations to enable communication betweenthe wellbore and the productive formation. It should be understood thatthe present invention can also be utilized with wellbores that have anorientation that is deviated from vertical.

The particular embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative only, asthe invention may be modified and practiced in different but equivalentmanners apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of theteachings herein. Furthermore, no limitations are intended to thedetails of construction or design herein shown, other than as describedin the claims below. It is therefore evident that the particularembodiments disclosed above may be altered or modified and all suchvariations are considered within the scope and spirit of the invention.Accordingly, the protection sought herein is as set forth in the claimsbelow.

1. An inflatable well completion tool comprising: an inflatable element;a particulate filter operatively coupled to the inflatable element; andwherein the inflatable element is adapted for inflation by an inflatingfluid obtained from filtering a gravel laden slurry using theparticulate filter.
 2. The well completion tool of claim 1 wherein theinflatable element is capable of movement between a deflated state andan inflated state.
 3. The well completion tool of claim 2 wherein theinflatable element comprises a top end, a bottom end, an interior, and apassageway allowing communication of the inflating fluid between the topend of the inflatable element and the interior of the inflatableelement.
 4. The well completion tool of claim 3 wherein the passagewaycomprises at least one shunt tube.
 5. The well completion tool of claim3 wherein the passageway comprises at least one alternative channel. 6.The well completion tool of claim 3 wherein the inflatable elementfurther comprises a passageway allowing communication of the inflatingfluid between the bottom end of the inflatable element and the interiorof the inflatable element.
 7. The well completion tool of claim 6wherein the passageway comprises a check valve that restricts reverseflow.
 8. The well completion tool of claim 1 further comprising: a firstsand screen; a second sand screen; and wherein the inflatable elementisolates the first sand screen from the second sand screen.
 9. The wellcompletion tool of claim 1 further comprising: a sand screen; andwherein the inflatable element is placed below the sand screen andisolates the sand screen from the well below the inflatable element. 10.An isolation packer for use in a wellbore comprising: an inflatableelement; a passageway communicating between an exterior and an interiorof the inflatable element; a particulate filter located on thepassageway; and wherein the inflatable element is capable of beinginflated by an inflating fluid obtained from filtering, by theparticulate filter, a gravel laden slurry traveling on the passageway.11. The isolation packer of claim 10 wherein the passageway comprises atleast one shunt tube.
 12. The isolation packer of claim 10 wherein thepassageway comprises at least one alternative channel.
 13. The isolationpacker of claim 10 further comprising: a first sand screen; a secondsand screen; and wherein the inflatable element isolates the first sandscreen from the second sand screen.
 14. The isolation packer of claim 10further comprising: a lowermost sand screen; and wherein the inflatableelement is placed below the lowermost sand screen and isolates thelowermost sand screen from the well below the inflatable element. 15.The isolation packer of claim 10 wherein the passageway comprises acheck valve that restricts reverse flow.
 16. The isolation packer ofclaim 10 further comprising a tubular body attached to the inflatableelement.
 17. A wellbore isolation device comprising: a tubular bodymember having first and second segments, each segment having an exteriorand a longitudinal bore extending therethrough; a bladder surroundingthe second segment of the tubular body, the bladder having a wall, aninterior, an upper end, and a lower end; a passageway located adjacentthe exterior of the first segment and extending through the wall of thebladder element; a particulate filter located on the passageway andoperatively coupled to the interior of the bladder; and wherein thepassageway allows a gravel laden slurry to be filtered by theparticulate filter thereby producing an inflating fluid which enters andexpands the bladder.
 18. The device of claim 17, wherein the passagewaycomprises a check valve that restricts reverse flow.
 19. The device ofclaim 17, wherein the bladder is expandable in a radial direction. 20.The device of claim 19, wherein the bladder is attached to the tubularbody member.
 21. The device of claim 20, wherein the bladder has anupper end and a lower end, and both the upper end and the lower end areconnected to the tubular body member.
 22. The device of claim 21 whereinthe second tubular body segment comprises an upper packer head and alower packer head, and the bladder upper end is connected to the upperpacker head and the bladder lower end is connected to the lower packerhead.
 23. The device of claim 22 wherein the passageway extends throughthe upper packer head and communicates between the exterior of the firstsegment of the tubular body member and the interior of the bladder. 24.The device of claim 22 wherein the passageway extends through the upperand lower packer heads and communicates between the exterior of thefirst and second segments of the tubular body member and the interior ofthe bladder.
 25. The device of claim 17 wherein the passageway enablescommunication between the exterior of the first segment of the tubularbody member and the interior of the bladder.
 26. The device of claim 17further comprising a third segment of the tubular body member whereinthe passageway enables communication between the exterior of the firstand third segments with the interior of the bladder.
 27. The device ofclaim 17 wherein the passageway comprises a shunt tube.
 28. The deviceof claim 17 wherein the passage way comprises an alternative channel.29. A wellbore isolation tool comprising: a tubular body having alongitudinal bore therethrough and an exterior; an expandable bladderattached to the tubular body; a passageway providing communicationbetween the expandable bladder and the exterior of the tubular body; aparticulate filter communicably coupled to the expandable bladder andlocated on the passageway; and wherein the passageway allows a gravelladen slurry to be filtered by the particulate filter thereby producingan inflating fluid which enters and expands the expandable bladder. 30.The wellbore isolation tool of claim 29 wherein the passageway comprisesa check valve that restricts reverse flow.
 31. The wellbore isolationtool of claim 31 wherein the bladder has an upper end and a lower end,and both the upper end and the lower end are connected to the tubularbody.
 32. The wellbore isolation tool of claim 29 wherein the passagewaycomprises a shunt tube.
 33. The wellbore isolation tool of claim 29wherein the passage way comprises an alternative channel.
 34. Anisolation packer system for use in a wellbore comprising: a tubular bodymember having first, second and third segments, the first and thirdsegments being on opposite ends of the second segment, each segmenthaving an exterior and a longitudinal bore extending therethrough; abladder surrounding the second segment of the tubular body, the bladderhaving a wall and an interior; a passageway located adjacent the firstand third segments and extending through the wall of the bladder; atleast one particulate filter located on the passageway and incommunication with the bladder; and wherein the passageway allows agravel laden slurry to be filtered by the particulate filter therebyproducing an inflating fluid which enters and expands the bladder. 35.The system of claim 34 wherein the passageway enables communicationbetween the exterior of the first and third segments with the interiorof the bladder.
 36. The system of claim 34 wherein during a gravel packcompletion of a wellbore the passageway allows the gravel laden slurryto communicate between the exterior of the first and third segments andthe at least one particulate filter.
 37. The system of claim 34 whereinthe passageway comprises a check valve that restricts reverse flow. 38.The system of claim 34 wherein the at least one particulate filtercomprises a check valve that restricts reverse flow.
 39. The system ofclaim 34 wherein the bladder is capable of radial expansion upon beingfilled with the inflating fluid.
 40. The system of claim 39 whereuponradial expansion the bladder forms a seal between the tubular body andthe wellbore wall.
 41. The system of claim 34 wherein the passagewaycomprises a shunt tube.
 42. The system of claim 34 wherein the passageway comprises an alternative channel.
 43. The system of claim 34 furthercomprising a cup packer affixed along some portion of the wellbore wallfor creating a pressure seal.
 44. A method of sealing an annulus in awell, comprising the steps of: filtering a gravel laden slurry toproduce an inflating fluid; and expanding an inflatable element with theinflating fluid.
 45. The method of claim 44 further comprising the stepof communicating, over a passageway, the inflating fluid between anexterior and an interior of the inflatable element.
 46. The method ofclaim 45 further comprising the step of restricting reverse flow of theinflating fluid on the passageway with a check valve.
 47. The method ofclaim 44 further comprising the step of obtaining the gravel ladenslurry from a gravel packing of the well.
 48. The method of claim 44further comprising the step of: sealing an annulus of the well; andisolating a first zone from a second zone.
 49. A method of completing awell comprising the steps of: providing a sand screen completion havingat least one inflatable element therein; gravel packing at least aportion of the well with a gravel slurry; filtering the gravel slurrywith a particulate filter to produce an inflating fluid; and inflatingthe inflatable element with the inflating fluid.
 50. The method of claim49 further comprising the step of: communicating between an exterior andinterior of the inflatable element with a passageway.
 50. The method ofclaim 49 further comprising the step of restricting reverse flow on thepassageway with a check valve.
 51. The method of claim 49 furthercomprising the step of passing a portion of the gravel slurry throughthe passageway.
 52. The method of claim 51 further comprising the stepsof: sealing an annulus of the well with the inflatable element; andisolating a first zone from a second zone.